Supporting Municipal Actions to
Protect and Improve Water Quality
March 1, 2016
Purpose of the Project Improve the ability of organizations to assist
municipalities in their efforts to improve and protect
water quality.
Main research questions:
What are the barriers to, and conditions of, success for
municipal-based conservation practices
What municipal TA services are working?
How can they be replicated and improved?
Where and how could TA be more effective?
Project Team Alison Hastings – Manager, Office of
Communications and Engagement
Patty Elkis – Division Director, Planning
Christina Arlt – Senior Planner
Melissa Andrews – Environmental Planner
Kim Korejko – Manager, Geospatial Resources
Chris Linn – Manager, Office of Environmental
Planning
Project Components Task 1: Plan project and establish the Municipal Technical
Assistance Advisory Panel (MTAAP)
Task 2: Analysis of municipal TA support services through MTAAP engagement
Task 3: Establish protocol for municipal interviews and outreach
Task 4: Understand common barriers to, and conditions of, success for municipal-based conservation practices
Task 5: Recommend TA practices, tools, and incentives to meet municipal needs, as endorsed by MTAAP
Task 6: Complete final report and distribute to MTAAP, expanded stakeholder group, DRWI Coordinating Committee, and others as identified
Timeline – July 2015 – Dec 2016
July 2015 to April 2016 : MTAAP formation,
knowledge sharing, and peer learning (Tasks 1 & 2)
Mar to Sept 2016: Establish municipal interview
protocol and conduct outreach (Tasks 3 & 4)
Sept to Dec 2016: TA recommendations (Task 5)
Dec 2016: Final report (Task 6)
Post Dec 2016: Further Disseminate report
Role of MTAAP Approx. 4 – 6 meetings
Provide baseline understanding of municipal TA services and municipal-based conservation practices
Share knowledge and facilitate peer learning
Guide engagement with municipalities
Inform and prioritize final recommendations
Help gather feedback at area workshops and conferences (ex. Watershed Forum, WPF Winter Gathering)
Help present MTAAP final recommendations (ex. APA-PA Annual Conference)
MTAAP Timeline – So Far…. December 1, 2015 – MTAAP Mtg #1: Introductions,
Overview, and Stakeholder Early Findings
March 1, 2016 – MTAAP Mtg #2: Shape Municipal Outreach Phase
April 15, 2016 – MTAAP Webinar – Review Municipal Outreach Materials
TB D June 2016 – MTAAP Mtg #3: Early Findings from Municipal Outreach Phase; Promising Recommendations
TBD Sept/Oct 2016 – MTAAP Mtg#4: Findings from Municipal Outreach Phase; Promising Recommendations
MTAAP Support
Travel reimbursement
Mileage, parking & transit fares
Participation stipends
Support on a per meeting basis
Support for facilitating or presenting at
area workshops/conferences
Separate consulting opportunities
Stakeholder Interviews:
Findings
Purpose of Interviews Learn about new stakeholders as quickly as possible
Reconnect with partners
Collect opinions on threats, strategies and
recommendations
Solicit best practices (organizations and municipalities)
Use responses throughout 18-month study
Methodology Interview period from early August 2015 through
February 2016
Project Team conducted “2nd Round Interviews” based
on most referenced organizations and/or individuals
For Today’s findings…. not scientific:
We did not record the interviews; may have missed some
comments
Qualitative
Judgement calls
Methodology con’t 60 individuals in 55 interviews
Responses coded into most general possible categories
(ex. “Education”)
Identify overall trends; use “wisdom of the group”
OK to take broad brush strokes
Outliers are still important; will be used throughout
project
Things to think about… 1. What threats, strategies, or municipal actions are
most important?
2. What are the conditions of success that
municipalities need in order to improve water
quality?
3. What are some recommendations we can develop
throughout this project?
Who we spoke to…
4
11
3 2 2
11
22
5
0
5
10
15
20
25
Who we
spoke to
Biggest Threats – to the watershed 27
22
17
11 9 8 7
5 4 3
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Threat – Stormwater Runoff
Existing development
Runoff from urbanized
areas
Untreated stormwater
Degraded stream riparian
corridors/ banks/
channels
Nonpoint source pollution
Flooding
Threat – Development/Urbanization
New development
Poor land use decisions
Fragmentation
Threat of pipelines and/or other energy infrastructure
Deforestation
Property owners infringing on stream corridors
People
Threat – Lack of Capacity (Knowledge
& Time)
Land use regulations are complicated
One size doesn’t fit all
Building a barn or a subdivision
Intimidated by law
Fear and real burden of lawsuits
Education of staff, elected officials, and general public
Municipalities have heavy burden; triage; too many
small municipalities
Training is one part, time is another
Important Strategies – to improve
or maintain water quality 22
17
11 11 10 9 9 7
5 3
20
0
5
10
15
20
25
Strategies - Education Educate everyone involved in the development process,
from planning board member to municipal engineer
Officials are dependent on professional staff
Encourage individual’s behavior change (ex. pick up dog poop)
Organize clean-up activities
Educate landowners (stream buffers)
Employ communication tactics/strategies
Communicate water quality monitoring data
Branding the watershed, like the Chesapeake Bay
Strategies - Education
Organize clean-
up activities
“Educate everyone
from planning
board member to
municipal
engineer”
“Find better
ways to
communicate
water quality
monitoring
data”
“Brand the
Delaware River
watershed, like
the Chesapeake
Bay”
“Why you
should pick up
dog poop”
Strategies - Regulations
Strategies - Regulations Educate everyone involved in the development process, from
planning board member to municipal engineer
Officials are dependent on professional staff
If not present, adopt local land use ordinances:
Riparian buffer
Stormwater
Zoning
Land Development
Update ordinances to implement or be consistent with comp plan, county plan, etc.
Improve ordinances (ex. increase stream buffer from 50’ to 100’)
Must have state enabling legislation to empower municipalities (ex. Stormwater authorities and/or stormwater billing)
Strategies - Stormwater
Management Retrofit existing development (permits for sheds,
driveways)
Role-model on public property; demonstration projects
Prioritize nonstructural controls; green infrastructure
Create incentives for private landowners
Important Municipal Actions 28
26
17
6 6 6 5 3 3
22
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Municipal Action - Regulation Update ordinances
Riparian buffer (100’, 150’, 300’)
Stormwater
Zoning
Land Development
Other types of ordinances
Trees
Steep slopes
Groundwater/Water Resource Protection Areas (encourage recharge; reduce possible contamination)
Conservation Design Ordinances
Municipal Action - Education Educate everyone involved in the development process,
from planning board member to municipal engineer
Residents (ex. pick up dog poop)
Create incentives for staff/officials training
Only choir attends
Organize clean-up activities
Employ communication tactics/strategies
Communicate scientific information
Municipal Action - Education
Clean-up
activities:
“Local impact
matters”
“Innovate or
get basins”
“Conventional
practices are
still the norm”
Optional
Training: “Only
the choir
attends”
“How do we
work with
engineers?”
Municipal Action- Stormwater
Management Funding
Dedicate tax or regular part of budget
Institute Fees
Best Practices
Require them on all disturbances
Lead by example
High Profile
Incentives!
For Developers (time savings?)
For Residents (cost-sharing?)
For large landowners (reduction of SW fee?)
Greatest Limitation faced by
municipalities
43
31
23
6 4
21
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Funding Education Political Buy-
in/Will
Longterm
Investments
Political
Boundaries
Other
Limitation – Funding Staff Time
Not enough people, not enough hours to do what is needed;
Need professional, qualified staff with desired skills or approach
Stormwater is unfunded mandate
Say yes to development:
Chasing ratables – short-term tax revenue
Fear of lawsuits
Limited ability and willingness to charge for stormwater
Limitation - Education Training for staff:
All Staff
Engineers
DPW
Education:
Elected Officials
Public
Limitation – Political Buy-in/Will Leadership at the municipal level
Overcoming fear: lawsuit, change, reelection
Unwillingness of public to demand action or pay
additional taxes
Conclusions Cross-cutting Themes:
Education – elected officials, professional staff, public
Regulations – adopt them; update them; enforce them; assess them (repeat)
Stormwater management – big threat but comprehensive approach is best strategy; municipalities have opportunity to lead by example
Undercutting Limitations:
Funding – Where’s the revenue? Lots of expenditures: education, staff time, and technical assistance; facilities; longterm investments
Political Buy-in and Public Will
Recommendations Start systematically reviewing at June meeting
Final report will feature “mini-proposals”
Examples:
Establish legal fund for municipalities that change land use and zoning ordinances to support water quality goals
Create matching fund for municipalities based on training and/or continuing education credits
Include (and resource) County Conservation Districts and Planning Commissions in WPF cluster proposals
Work with PSATS, PSABS, NJ League and other one-stop shops for municipalities to raise awareness re: water quantity/quality and promote municipal tools
Municipal Outreach Phase
Project Components Task 1: Plan project and establish the Municipal Technical
Assistance Advisory Panel (MTAAP)
Task 2: Analysis of municipal TA support services through MTAAP engagement
Task 3: Establish protocol for municipal interviews and outreach
Task 4: Understand common barriers to, and conditions of, success for municipal-based conservation practices
Task 5: Recommend TA practices, tools, and incentives to meet municipal needs, as endorsed by MTAAP
Task 6: Complete final report and distribute to MTAAP, expanded stakeholder group, DRWI Coordinating Committee, and others as identified
Municipal Outreach Phase Municipal Tools Inventory
Municipal Case Study Methodology
Hypotheses – What do we want to learn?
Typologies – How do we organize municipalities?
Variables – What information do we need to collect to
prove or disprove hypothesis?
Objective – What can we collect from third-party sources?
Subjective – What do we need to know from municipal
stakeholders?
How can we protect water quality? Acid Mine Drainage Abatement and Treatment Program (AMDATP) (PA) "Net Out" of Resources (PA Only)
Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance/Concurrency/Growth Control/Timing) Nutrient/Fertilizer Management
Advance Acquisition/Land Banking Official Map
Agricultural Zoning (Large Lot = 40 acres+)/Agricultural Protection Zoning On-site Septic Ordinances
Agricultural Sliding Scale Zoning Open Space and Recreation Plans
Agricultural Security Areas Orphan or Abandoned Well Plugging Program (OAWP Act 13) (PA only)
Baseline Qater Quality Data Program (Act 13) (PA) Parking Management (reduces impervious surfaces)
Build-Out Analysis Pennsylvania Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program
Capital Improvement Program (e.g., for upkeep of waste water treatment plants and sewer infrastructure) Parkland Dedication/Public Dedication of Lands and Fees in Lieu for Parks and Recreation
Coastal Zone Management Planning Board Education
Comprehensive Planning (especially Multimunicipal Comprehensive Plans) - Water quality as a stated goal Plumbing Codes that allow water reuse or protect against groundwater impairment (Building Code)
Community Visioning Preferential Property Taxation
Conservation by Design/Cluster Development/Performance Zoning/Open Space Design Ordinance Recharge Zone Protection
Conservation Easement Program Reclaiming Brownfields / Industrial Sites Reuse Program (PA)
Cost of Community Services Study Regional Tax Base Sharing
Creating Sustainable Community Parks (Land Management) Right-to-Farm Provisions
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Riparian Buffer Ordinance/Stream Corridor Protection Ordinance
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Riparian Buffer Protection Agreement
Development Threat Analysis Runoff control or runoff reduction BMPs on agricultural operations
Development Impact Fee Sea Level Rise Planning and Climate Ready Estuaries
Environmental Advisory Council/Environmental Commission Source Water Protection Planning
Environmental Impact Assessments Special Assessments
Environmental Resource Inventory (ERI)/Natural Resource Inventory Subdivision and Development Review/Site Design
Erosion and Sedimentation Ordinance Streambank Fencing
Farmland Preservation Plan Stream Channel/Stream Bank Stabilization
Fee Simple Land Purchase/Program Steep Slope Ordinance
Floodplain Management Ordinance Stormwater Ordinance
Flood Mitigation Program (PA) Stormwater BMPs (Structural and Non-Structural)
Forestry Zoning (80+ acres) Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO)
Green Stormwater Infrastructure (Green Roofs, Green Streets, Rain Gardens, Bioswales, Naturalized Basins, etc.) Stormwater Outfall Mapping
Greenway Plan Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND)
Growth Rate Caps Transfer of Development Rights (TDR)
Hazardous Waste Collection Program Tree Inventory
Historic Preservation Tree Management Plan
Impervious Surface/Cover Limits Tree Ordinance (Buffer zones, Tree Planting Care & Standards, Specimen & Special Tree Protections)
Invasive Species Management Program Tree Planting/Muncipal Tree Management
Sustainable Land Management Program (Invasive species, DPW training - GI maintenance, no/low mow) Underground Storage Tank Regulations
Land Conversion Tax Urban Growth Boundary (UGB)
Landscape Ordinances (especially those encouraging use of native plants) Well Construction/Closure Standards
Locally Funded Open Space Program (Tax or Bond) Wellhead Protection Ordinance
Low Impact Development Watershed Planning
Manure Management Watershed Restoration and Protection Program (WRPP) (PA)
Master Plan Green Building and Environmentally Sustainable Plan Element Wetlands Management Ordinance (PA Only)
Master Plan Conservation Element Wetlands Mapping (NJ Only)
Multimunicipal Partnerships for Recreation and Parks Woodland Protection/Percent Tree Cover Ordinance
Zoning (and Zoning Revisions), especially Multimunicipal Zoning
Municipal Tools •Comprehensive Plan Plans
•Zoning Ordinance
•Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance Ordinances
•Preservation Program Programs
•Preferential Property Taxation Taxes/Fees/
Bonds/Incentives
•Environmental Advisory Council (EAC)/Environmental Commission (EC)
•Planning Commission People
What tools are
available to
municipalities?
The Municipal Tool Inventory What tools are available to municipalities to protect or
improve water quality?
Which tools are most effective?
Where are these tools most effective?
What do the tools need to have in order to be effective?
Are any municipal tools missing? If so, let’s add them to the list.
Municipal Managers, Staff,
Elected Officials have a lot on
their plate
Road Maintenance Insurance
H.R. Issues Boards &
Commissions
Ordinances & Resolutions
Parks & Recreation
Trash & Recycling Residents
Workman’s Comp Claims
Crime
Emergency Management Auditors
Grant Applications Taxes
Right to Know
Requests
Planning & Zoning
Police Union Bonds
Lawsuits Contracts
School District
Municipal Pensions
State Agencies
Business Owners
Limited Time, Attention, & $$$ Writing ordinances takes time and money
Enforcing ordinances takes time and money
Which tools are most effective? Let’s prioritize.
Everyone has 3 dots. Come up and vote!
Reconvene in 10 minutes; by breakout group:
Group 1: Pennsylvania Room – Melissa Andrews
Group 2: New Jersey Room – Alison Hastings
Group 3: Conference Room Front – Patty Elkis
Group 4: Conference Room Back – Chris Linn
Small Group Discussions #1 One group for each of the top four tools
Where is this tool most effective?
What type of municipality?
What part of the watershed?
What needs to be included in this tool for it to be
effective?
Who provides technical assistance for this tool?
Information resource
Hands-on technical assistance
Please Join Us For Lunch!
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